Switch apparatus for electric current-distributing circuits.



No. 647,783. Patented Apr. l7, I900.

T. ALLEIIIANN.

SWITCH APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC CURRENT DISTRIBUTING CIRCUITS.

(Application filed Nov. 22, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

Wt 77/ elm (4K THE Norms PETERS cc. PHoraLn-Hu, WASHINGTON. n c.

No. 647,783. Patented Apr. I7, 1900. T. ALLEMANN.

SWITCH APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC CURRENT DISTRIBUTING CIRCUITS.

(Application filed. Nov. 22, 1899.) 7 (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

\ I l I I I I Eva /0 9"- obtw, w, @04 a; mwx

RS 120.. vuo'rou'mou WASNINGTON, 0. cv

No. 647,783. Patent ed Apr. I7, I900. T. ALLEMANN.

SWITCH APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC CURRENT DISTRIBUTING CIRCUITS.

(Application filed Nov. 22, 1899.) 7 (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' THE mums FETER$ co.. PHOTO LlTHO" WASHINGTON. uIc.

- Patented Apr. l7, I900.

T. ALLEMANN. SWITCH APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC CURRENT DISTRIBUTINGCIRCUITS.

(Application filed. Nov. 22, 1899.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets$heet 4.

lkl lllll a l I 1 1 11 1 11 1 1 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 11 11 11 1 11 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 11 11 N1 711 11 1 1,11,, 1 A ,1 1 z ,1 1 1 11 1 11 1/ 1 1 1 1 1 11 1 1 11 11 11.11 1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 FIELE- iflmewyef' THEugnms PETERS 00., PNOTO-LlTNO-, wnsmumow, D. c

Urvrrnn STATES PATENT Grains,

THFODOR ALLEMANN, OF OLTEN, SWITZERLAND.

SWITCH APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC CURRENT-DISTRIBUTING ClRCUlTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 647,? 83, dated April17', 1900.

Application filed November 22,1899. Serial No. 737,875. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that l, THEODOR ALLEMANN, engineer, a citizen of the SwissRepublic, and a resident of Olten, canton of Soleure,Switzerland, haveinvented a new and useful Switch Apparatus for ElectricCurrenbDistributing Circuits Operating Automatically at PredeterminedPeriods, of which the followingis a clear, full, and exactspecification.

The object of the present invention is a switch apparatus which has forits purpose to automatically interrupt the current in electricaldistribution -circuits at a given previously-determined moment and toautomatically reinstate it at another fixed period. In this manner thecurrent can be withdrawn from a current consumer for certain purposesbetween these predetermined periods. This apparatus may be used, forexample, where current is distributed from an electrical circuit fortransmission of power, as well as for lighting purposes, and in which atcertain times-as, for instance, at twilight and at dawn-"much morecurrent is required for lighting purposes. At these times, therefore,the supply of current for power purposes must be cut off, which iseffected automatically by this apparatus, as it interrupts the currentwhich supplies the power-circuits. On the other hand, it reinstates theservice again as soon as the interval has elapsed during which morecurrent than usual is needed for lighting purposes.

In the accompanying drawings one c0nstructional form of the newapparatus isillustrated by way of example with a suitable system forconnectingit with the main currentcircuit, in which Figure 1 shows theapparatus in front elevation. Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate it in twosections vertical to one another, while Fig. 4 shows a detail of theapparatus in back elevation. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a suitable systemof connecting the apparatus with the main wires with the necessaryadditional devices.

In the closed casing of the apparatus illustrated (see Figs. 1, 2, and3) a powerful clockwork mechanism is placed, the springbox 1 of which isenabled, by means of gearing, to

revolve a disk 2 once in twenty-four hours.

This disk 2 isprovided with holes 3, placed at equal distances apartaround its periphery and at an equal distance from the center, in whichreleasing-pins 4 can be placed.

The automatic switching off and on of the current is effected by meansof a switch-drum 5, placed in the lower part of the apparatus andforming a spring-box, which drum is provided with an escapement. Theescape-wheel 10 of this escapement, as well as the switchdrum 5, isplaced loosely on asleeve 11, which is firmly connected with thewinding-shaft 6 of the actuating-spring 7, placed in the drum 5, bymeans of an insulating-envelop 9. The two-detent lever 12 of thisescapement, under the action of the spring 26, is located on an axle 13and is connected with an upwardlydirected lever-arm 14-, the length ofwhich arm can be altered for the purpose of effecting accurateadjustment. The releasing-pins 4: can strike against the top of this armat the predetermined periods.

The escape-wheel 10 and the switclndrum 5 are connected with each otherwith interposition of an insulating layer 15. The drum 5 consists ofconducting material, such as bronze or the like, and strips 8 ofinsulating material are inserted at regular intervals in its outercircumference, while the actuatingspring '7 is connected, on the onehand, with the inner circumference of the drum and, on the other hand,with the sleeve 11, fixed on the winding-shaft 6. The number ofinsulating-strips 8 is equal to half the number of teeth of theescape-wheel 10.

There are two collector-brushes 16 and 17 on the circumference of thedrum 5, each located on an axle 20 in insulated bearings,one

of which, 16, is in electric connection with the wire 18, conducting thecurrent into the apparatus, and the other, 17, with the wire 19,conducting the current out of the apparatus.

The back of the drum 5 is provided with a spiral groove 21, Figs. 3 and4, which can move radially, by means of a catch-pin 22, a sleeve 23,which is placed on a quadrangular guide'piece 24, fastened on the sleeve11. Thereby the drum 5 can be stoppedafter a certain number ofrevolutions, as the catchpin 22, arriving at the outer end of the spiralgroove 21, stops the drum The length of the spiral groove is such thatwhen the drum 5 is thus stopped by the catch-pin 22 the brushes 16 and17 must each be on one of the insulating-strips 8 of the drum, so thatthe circuit is broken. The consumer is therefore obliged to keep theapparatus continually going if he wishes to obtain current. Of course inorder to effect this the spring-box 1 of the clockwork mechanism must becapable of keepingit going at least until the drum 5 has been stopped bythe catch-pin 22.

By turning the winding-shaft 6 not only the spring 7 but also the springof the box 1 of the clockwork can be wound up by means of the chainmechanism 27, while the winding-shaft 6 is prevented from turningbackward by the ratchet-wheel 25 and catch 26. As the clock-spring iswound up at the same time as the spring 7 of the switch-drum, naturallya standing still of the clockwork is prevented.

In order to be able to read off the quantity of current requireddirectly on the apparatus, it is provided with an hour-meter. In thecase of the apparatus there is an electromagnet 28, the coil-winding ofwhich is supplied with current by a branch wire 29, and the core 32 ofwhich, being under the influence of a spring 31, is drawn into themagnetcoil as soon as current tlowsthrough the winding of theelectromagnet 28. On the top of the core 32 rests one end of an arm 40,supported on a shaft 33 and limited in its downward movement by anadjustable stop-screwS. This shaft 33 carries, by means of an arm 38, agear 35 36, which, on the one hand, is in engagement with the metermechanism and, on the other hand, can be placed in engagement with awheel of the clock mechanism by lowering the arm 40, so that in thismanner the meter mechanism is worked from the clock mechanism.

The method of operation of the apparatus described is as follows: Fig. 2shows the apparatus in a deenergized condition. The clock mechanism ofthe apparatus is supposed going and a releasing-pin 4: of the disk 2 haspassed the arm 14 of the two detent lever 12 and the switch-drum 5 hastaken the position shown in Fig. 2, in which the brushes 1t and 17 areeach on an insulating-strip of the drum 5, so that the current comingfrom the conductor 18 into the conductor 10 is cut oil. A tooth of theescape-wheel 10 is kept pressed by the spring 7 against the arm (I, ofthe two-detcnt lever 12 through the medium of the drum 5. l'Vhile thislever-arm is in engagement with the toothing of the escape-wheel underpressure of the spring 26, the other arm of the lever 12, on thecontrary, is out of the engagement therewith. As no current flowsthrough the apparatus, the mechanism of the meter is cut out and remainsat rest. The apparatus remains deenergized and the consumer obtains nomore current until the next releasing-pin at on the disk 2,cont-inucraves ously revolved by the clockwork, strikes against the arm1- lof the lever 12, which hereby is turned in the direction of thearrow at, so that its arm (1 is brought out of engagement with theteething of the escapewheel 10, at the same time bringing the other armZ) into engagement with the toothing of the escape-wheel 10. Under theinfluence of the coiled spring 7 a tooth of the escapewheel slips underthe arm a. The cscapcwheel remains, however, held by means of the arm bof the lever until the releasing-pin 41: leaves the top of the arm itand the lever 12 is replaced by means of the spring 2t in the positionillustrated in Fig. 2, in which the next tooth of the escapewvheel ispressed against the arm CL of the lever 12. The es cape-wheel thereforeonly advances one tooth. By this the brushes 16 and 17 are passed onfrom the insulating-strips 8 to conducting parts of the drums eircumference, so that the circuit is closed and the current coming from theconductor 18 can take its way tl'n'ough the drum 5 again. At the sametime as the closing of the circuit the core 32 is drawn into the coil ofthe electremagnet 28, so that the gear 35 36 is brought into engagementwith the clock mechanism in consequence of the lowering of the arm -10and the mechanism of the hourmeter is actuated. The circuit remainsclosed until another releasing-pin -1- of the disk 2 effects the releaseof the drum 5 and the escape-wheel again springs forward a'tooth, the.The spring 7 gradually nncoils until at last the drum 5 is stopped bythe catch-pin 22, which is guided in its spiral groove 21 and arrives atthe outside end thereof. In consequence of this the collectorbrushes 16and 17, owing to the suitably-proportioned spiral groove 21, step on theinsulating-strips S of the drum 5, breaking the circuit. The currentconsumer is thus forced to wind up the spring 7 when he wishes to obtaincurrent. Consequently the clockwork, which has not yet run downcompletely, is also wound up again by means of the chain mechanism 27.

The releasingpins 4 are inserted as occasion requires in the respectiveholes ol. the disk 2, which performs one entire revolution pertwenty-four hours. In the form of the construction illustrated this diskhas twentyfour holes, corresponding to the number of hours of one dayand night.

Such an apparatus inserted, forinstancc, in the main-line circuit of aconsumer using it for power and light will automatically cut oil. thepower-current at a oer-tain period of the time and reinstate itautomatically at a predetermined period, so that the current at disposalwithin this period can onlybe applied to illuminatingpurposes..illoreover, by means of this apparatus the supply of current can becharged to the consumer on the basis of a different price for power andlight and, respectively, in an easier and more satisfactory manner bothfor the seller and the consumer, as in each apparatus by means of thehourmeter connected therewith the quantity of current delivered and usedfor a certain purpose can be directly read off.

.It is obvious that in the apparatus described, by the fact that theswitch drum breaks contact onto insulating-strips instead of in the air(as in some switch apparatus) when breaking the circuit, the formationof sparks is diminished. In order to suppress these entirely, however,it is preferable to join the apparatus to the main line in the mannershown in Figs. 5 and 6.

In contradistinction to the mounting above described in this arrangementthe drum 5 is denergized in normal working, while the collector-brushes16 and 17 are joined to the main lineby means of branch wires 41 at theterminals 42 and 43 on the wires 44 and 45 of the main-current line andthe drum is set in shunt-circuit. In normal working the brushes 16 and17 rest on insulating-strips 8 of the drum 5, so that the shunt-circuitis broken. There is, moreover, in the apparatus a safetyfuse 46interpolated in the main-line circuit, and this contains also anordinary hand contact-breaker 47, in this case bipolar. As will be seenin this mounting, the current arrives in normal working from the sourceof current following the conducting-wire 4A through the terminal 48,contact-piece 49 of the contact-breaker 47, the one strip 46 of thesafetyfuse, and terminal 42 to the place of consumptionto a motor,forinstance-and from there through the other wire 45 through terminal 43,the other strip 46 of the safety-fuse, the contact 50 of thecontact-breaker 17, and terminal 51 back to the source of current. Nocurrent can flow through the drum, as the collector-brushes 16 and 17stand on insulated strips 8 thereof. If the drum is released by means ofthe clock mechanism, as described above, the brushes 16 and 17 slideonto conducting material of the drum, and consequently effect the shortcircuit. The current takes, therefore, the shorter and more conontoinsulating-strips 8, which causes the' breaking of the shunt-circuit.Immediately after this movement of the drum the consumer has to closethe contact-breaker 47 again in proportion to the current he wishes toobtain, and the current again takes its course, as stated above, withoutflowing through the apparatus. By this system of mounting the apparatusproperly works even with powerful current entirely sparkless, as thesparking is localized in the safety-fuse.

What I claim is 1. Switch apparatus for electric currentdistributingcircuits opera-ting automatically at predetermined periods, comprising adisk revolved by clockwork, releasing-pins capable of beinginterchangeably attached thereto, a rotatively-mounted switch-drum ofelectrically-conducting material capable of being moved under theinfluence of a source of power, strips of insulating materialcountersunk in the periphery of the said drum at regular intervals, anescape-wheel firmly connected to the drum, an oscillating lever with twodetents, capable of being operated by the releasing-pins, which detentscooperate with the teeth of the escape-wheel to cause the intermittentadvance of the drum and collecting-brushes resting upon the periphery ofthe drum, which brushes effect in contact with the drum alternately theinterruption and the closing of the main current-circuit.

2. In a switch apparatus for electric ourrent-distributing circuitsoperating automatmounted switch device constructed ofelectrically-conducting material with insulatingstrips, and being underthe influence of a source of power, an escape-wheel connected with thesaid device, an oscillating two-detent lever cooperating with the saidescape-wheel and sliding contacts operating together with the switchdevice, with an upwardly-directed arm on the said oscillating two-detentlever, which arm is adjustable in length for an exact regulation of theactuation of the said 1ever by means of the i'eleasingpins.

8. In a switch apparatus for electric current-distributing circuit-soperating automatically at predetermined periods, the combination ofarotatively-mounted switch device periodically released by a clockwork,and capable of being intermittently moved under the influence of asource of power and of sliding contacts cooperating with the saiddevice, with a spiral groove on the said switch device of a suitablydetermined length, a radial guide-piece fastened upon the shaft thereof,and a catch-pin movable thereon, which pin penetrates in the spiralgroove and is devised to stop the said switch device after a number ofrevolutions corresponding to the length of the spiral groove into such aposition that the main current-circuit is interrupted.

4. In a switch apparatus for electric current-distributing circuitsoperating automatically at predetermined periods, the combination ofarotatively-mounted switch device periodically released by a clockwork,and capable of beingintermittently moved under the influence of a sourceof power and of sliding contacts cooperating with the said device,with achain-gear for connecting the shaft of the said switch device with thespring-box of the Clockwork, for the purpose of insuring" that theclockwork must be wound up simultaneously with the switch device.

5. In a switch apparatus for electric current-distributing circuitsoperating automatically at predetermined periods, the combination of arotatively-mounted switch device periodically released by a clockwork,and capable of beingintermittently moved under the influence of a sourceof power and of sliding contacts cooperating with the said devi ce,withan hour-meter, an intermediate wheel-gear, which transmits the motionfrom the clockwork to the wheels of the meter, a pivoted arm supportingthe said intermediate gear and an eleetromagnet, whose winding isconnected to the current-circuit, and the movable core of which standsunder spring-pressure and supports the aforesaid arm, for the purpose bythe displacement of the said arm (under the influence of theelectromagnet) of simultaneously with the current-circuit closingconnecting the intermediate gear to the clockwork of the apparatus.

6. In a switch apparatus for electric current-distributing circuitsoperating automatres ically at predetermined periods, the combinationwith a rotatively-mounted switch device of electrically-eonductingmaterial with insulating-strips, the said device being adapted to beperiodically released by a clockwork and to be moved intermittentlyunder the-influence oil a source of power, and of sliding contactscooperating with the said. switch device, With a safety'tuse and anordinary con tact-breaker, both inserted in the main current-eircuit infront of the apparatus, and shunting-wires from the main line to thesaid sliding contacts, this arrangement allowing the said contacts topass for breaking the main current-line by short-circuit and fusion ofthe safety-fuse from insulating-strips of the switch device toconducting parts thereof and thus preventing sparks on the switchingmotion of the said switch device.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 10th day ofNovember, 1899, in the presence of two subscribingwitnesses.

TIIEODOR ALLEMANN.

Witnesses:

Gnonen Gn ronin, AMAND Rt'r'rnn.

